Sculpted by Erin Brown
Suffragette, Publicist, Journalist
1866 – 1956
Iceland, Manitoba
Margret Benedictsson was a trailblazing figure in the early women’s suffrage movement, particularly among the Icelandic communities in Canada. Her legacy as an activist, journalist, and community leader continues to inspire those fighting for gender equality and social justice. She is recognized as a ‘Manitoba Women Trailblazer’.
Early Life in Iceland and Emigration to North America
Margret Jónsdóttir was born in the north of Iceland at Hrappsstaoir, Vioidalur, on 16 March 1866. She was the daughter of Jón Jónsson and Kristjana Ebenesardóttir and was left to be raised by Jón and his wife, Margret, who sadly had leprosy, as did their two sons. Margret’s early life was marked by poverty and hardship: at a young age, she was fostered out to work as a farm hand. When he was able, her father came to get her but then died a year later when Margret was only 13 years old. On her own now, she went to work as a maid and private tutor for a wealthy farmer. Here she had access to an extensive library and read visionary ideas about social justice and women’s campaigns for better rights.
Margret joined the exodus to North America in 1887, bringing her beliefs in equal rights for Women from her Icelandic homeland. She borrowed the money for her passage, and settled in Pembina County, North Dakota. She found work on the farms and earned enough to put herself through grade school and two years at the business school, Bathgate College. Margret moved north to Winnipeg, Manitoba, joining the large Icelandic immigrant community there. She continued to study book-keeping, shorthand and typing in the evenings, while she worked to support herself during the day. She had a fierce independence honed from necessity and fired by the 19th C idealism of the Unitarian church’s social gospel and the women’s suffragette movement. She recognized the unique challenges faced by immigrant women, including language barriers, limited employment opportunities, and restricted political rights.
Journalistic Influence and Advocacy for Women’s Suffrage
In 1893, Margret married Sigfus Benedictsson, an Icelandic immigrant who had settled in Winnipeg. Their union produced two children, Ingi and Helen, and was characterized by shared values and activism. Sigfus was a committed supporter of women’s suffrage, frequently lecturing in Winnipeg to promote women’s liberation. While Margret was responsible for domestic duties during the day, she dedicated her evenings to advocacy, quickly gaining recognition as a popular speaker and organizer in the women’s suffrage movement.
The couple’s influence extended beyond their immediate community when they established a printing press in Selkirk, Manitoba. Together, they founded Freyja, the first and only women’s suffrage magazine in Canada. Margret took on the role of editor, shaping the magazine’s content and direction, while Sigfus managed the publishing company. In its inaugural issue, Margret made it clear that Freyja’s core mission was to champion the progress and rights of women above all else. However, she envisioned a publication with broad appeal, incorporating serialized fiction, literary reviews, poetry, letters, and a children’s corner. She wrote articles under the pseudonym ‘Herold’ in order to have her work and ideas taken more seriously by men. In just two years, Freyja had over 500 regular subscribers to the monthly journal. Margret used Freyja as a platform for philosophical arguments for bettering the lives of women, immigrants and working people. It included uplifting biographies of trailblazing women and news about women’s rights organizations both locally and internationally. The magazine was a platform for advocating for the right of women to vote and hold public office. Margret’s editorial leadership and journalism galvanized support for the suffrage movement, reaching audiences both within and beyond the Icelandic community in Canada.
In 1908, Margret Benedictsson became the first president of the newly founded Icelandic Women's Suffrage Society in Winnipeg, called Tilraum, which translates to ‘Endeavour’.This organization was among the first ethnic-based suffrage groups in Canada, It played a vital role in mobilizing Icelandic women to demand the right to vote. Margret’s tireless efforts included organizing meetings, writing articles, and lobbying local politicians. Her bilingual fluency allowed her to connect to both Icelandic and English-speaking audiences.
Impact and Legacy
Margret Benedictsson’s activism contributed significantly to the eventual enfranchisement of women in Manitoba in 1916, one of the first provinces in Canada to grant women the right to vote. Although by this time Margret had moved to Blaine, Washington with her children, the Lögberg-Heimskringla wrote that "her spirit and leadership were present.” Her work set a precedent for ethnic community involvement in national social movements and highlighted the importance of political involvement in the fight for women’s rights. She put her beliefs in women’s freedom into action when she filed for divorce in 1910, embarking on a lengthy legal process that required the passage of an Act of Parliament. In addition to her suffrage work, Margret advocated for education, children’s welfare, and community development. Today, she is remembered as a visionary leader who advanced the cause of equality not only for Icelandic women but for all Canadians.
Margret died in Blaine, Washington on the 13th of December 1956. Posthumously she was designated as a Manitoba Women Trailblazer and was inducted into the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame.
Margret Jónsdóttir Benedictsson’s life exemplifies courage, perseverance, and the transformative power of collective action. As an Icelandic suffragette and Canadian community builder, her contributions remain a cornerstone of women’s history in both Canada and the United States.